Self-recoupling detachable hinge mechanism, coupled between a first tracking solar panel array and a second tracking solar panel array, the hinge mechanism including a solar panel rail bridge having an adjustable length, a detachable hinge, a detachable socket, a cable and at least one tension retainer, the rail bridge being coupled between the first array and the second array, the detachable hinge being coupled with either the second side of the rail bridge or the second array, the detachable socket being respectively coupled with either the second array or the second side of the rail bridge, the cable being coupled between the detachable hinge and the detachable socket and the tension retainer being coupled with the cable, the detachable socket being configured for detaching from and recoupling with the detachable hinge and the tension retainer for maintaining tension across the cable between the detachable hinge and the detachable socket.
F24S 25/67 - Fixation means, e.g. fasteners, specially adapted for supporting solar heat collector modules for coupling adjacent modules or their peripheral frames
B25J 5/04 - Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages travelling along a guideway wherein the guideway is also moved, e.g. travelling crane bridge type
E01B 25/24 - Supporting rails; Auxiliary balancing rails; Supports or connections for rails
2.
WATERLESS SOLAR PANEL CLEANING ROBOT WITH HELIX SHAPED MICROFIBER ELEMENTS
A frameless waterless solar panel robotic cleaner for cleaning at least one solar panel, including an upper element and a lower element, at least two coupling joints, a cleaning cylinder, at least one rechargeable power source, at least one drive motor, a rotation motor, a processor and a transceiver, each of the upper and lower elements having at least two horizontal wheels and at least two vertical wheels, one of the coupling joints coupled with the upper element and one of the coupling joints coupled with the lower element with the cleaning cylinder being coupled between the upper and lower elements via the coupling joints, the cleaning cylinder including an internal cylinder coupled with the coupling joints, an external cylinder surrounding the internal cylinder, a plurality of fasteners positioned along the external cylinder and at least one microfiber element coupled to the external cylinder via the plurality of fasteners.
A passive securing device is provided for restricting movement of a solar panel service vehicle (SPSV), the passive securing device including a barrier portion, a restorative element and a mechanical limiter. The SPSV includes at least one motorized wheel, having an abrasive surface, for securing the SPSV moving over a platform into a predetermined area. The mechanical limiter prevents upwards movement of the SPSV from the platform when the SPSV is in the predetermined area. The barrier portion in a far edge position and the restorative element in a relaxed position prevents the SPSV from passively exiting the predetermined area. When the motorized wheel is actively rotated into the barrier portion, the abrasive surface forces the restorative element into a compressed position, thereby moving the barrier portion into a near edge position and enabling the SPSV to leave the predetermined area.
Autonomous robot for transporting a robotic cleaner for cleaning at least one solar table of at least one solar row, including a platform, a plurality of wheels, at least one drive motor, a plurality of pistons, an upper rail and a lower rail, at least two tilt sensors, at least one rechargeable power source, at least one proximity sensor, a stop sensor, at least two positioning sensors, a processor and a wireless communicator, the upper and lower rails each being respectively coupled with at least two of the pistons, a first tilt sensor coupled with the upper rail and a second tilt sensor coupled with the lower rail, wherein the pistons can respectively raise and lower the upper and lower rails, each one of the pistons can be independently raised and lowered and the robotic cleaner can communicate wirelessly with the autonomous robot and coordinate cleaning of the solar table.
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder, at least one edge sensor, at least one cleaning cylinder direct current (DC) drive motor including a built-in encoder, a cleaning cylinder drive belt and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the cleaning cylinder DC drive motor for driving the cleaning cylinder, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC, the built-in encoder for determining a revolutions per minute (RPM) of the cleaning cylinder.
G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
A47L 9/04 - Nozzles with driven brushes or agitators
A47L 9/28 - Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
B08B 1/04 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members using rotary operative members
6.
Waterless cleaning system and method for solar trackers using an autonomous robot
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the controller including a motion sensor for determining an angle of the solar tracker and a heading of the ARC, the docking station including at least one electrical connector for recharging the rechargeable power source, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the ARC.
G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
B08B 1/04 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members using rotary operative members
G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
7.
Waterless cleaning system and method for solar trackers using an autonomous robot
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the controller including a motion sensor for determining an angle of the solar tracker and a heading of the ARC, the docking station including at least one electrical connector for recharging the rechargeable power source, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the ARC.
G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
B08B 1/04 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members using rotary operative members
8.
MAGNETIC PARKING FOR ROBOTIC CLEANER ON A SOLAR PANEL
Autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC) for cleaning solar panels having an anchoring mechanism including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning mechanism, a controller and an anchoring mechanism, the cleaning mechanism for cleaning dirt off of a surface of the solar panels, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and the anchoring mechanism for magnetically anchoring the ARC to an anchoring surface coupled with a solar panel, the anchoring mechanism including an arm and a drive mechanism, the arm including at least one ferromagnetic end piece and the drive mechanism being coupled with the arm, wherein the drive mechanism moves the arm between a magnetically engaged position with the anchoring surface and a magnetically disengaged position with the anchoring surface.
Solar panel waterless cleaning system with potential induced degradation (PID) recovery, for cleaning a plurality of solar panels in at least one solar row and for reversing PID, the system including a body, at least two wheels, a cleaning cylinder, a plurality of cleaning fins, a power supply, including a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a controller, the cleaning cylinder mechanically coupled with the body for moving the body over the solar panels in the solar row, the wheels being electrically isolated from the body, the body, the wheels, the cleaning cylinder and the cleaning fins being made from a conductive material, the cleaning fins rotated by the cleaning cylinder and touching an upper surface of the solar panels, the controller electrically coupling the positive terminal with a grounded connection and the negative terminal with the cleaning fins when the cleaning cylinder is rotated.
Autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC) for cleaning solar panels having an anchoring mechanism including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning mechanism, a controller and an anchoring mechanism, the cleaning mechanism for cleaning dirt off of a surface of the solar panels, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and the anchoring mechanism for magnetically anchoring the ARC to an anchoring surface coupled with a solar panel, the anchoring mechanism including an arm and a drive mechanism, the arm including at least one ferromagnetic end piece and the drive mechanism being coupled with the arm, wherein the drive mechanism moves the arm between a magnetically engaged position with the anchoring surface and a magnetically disengaged position with the anchoring surface.
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the controller including a motion sensor for determining an angle of the solar tracker and a heading of the ARC, the docking station including at least one electrical connector for recharging the rechargeable power source, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC and for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the ARC.
A47L 5/22 - Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
F24J 2/10 - having reflectors as concentrating elements
H02J 7/35 - Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering with light sensitive cells
12.
Waterless cleaning system and method for solar trackers using an autonomous robot
Solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar tracker solar panels, the solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, the system including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder and a controller, the controller including a 6-axis motion sensor, the 6-axis motion sensor including an accelerometer and an electronic gyroscope, the docking station including at least one electrical connector for recharging the power source, the cleaning cylinder for cleaning dirt off of the solar tracker without water, the 6-axis motion sensor for determining an angle of the solar tracker and a heading of the ARC, wherein the ARC anchors in the docking station and cleans the solar tracker positioned at the pre-determined angle and wherein the 6-axis motion sensor is used for navigating the ARC over the solar tracker surface.
H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
13.
Waterless cleaning system and method for solar trackers using an autonomous robot
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker under varying wind conditions, the solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, the waterless cleaning system including a docking station, an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC) and a master controller, the docking station being coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the master controller for receiving and transmitting data to and from the solar tracker and the ARC, the ARC including a controller, for controlling a cleaning process and for transmitting and receiving signals, the docking station including a plurality of locking bars, coupled with the docking station, for protecting the ARC during the varying wind conditions, the ARC can anchor in the docking station and the master controller determines an average wind speed and provides a clean command to the ARC if the average wind speed is below a predetermined threshold.
B08B 1/00 - Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
H02S 20/32 - Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment specially adapted for solar tracking
H02S 40/36 - Electrical components characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
H02S 40/38 - Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
B25J 5/00 - Manipulators mounted on wheels or on carriages
G01W 1/02 - Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed
G01S 3/786 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system the desired condition being maintained automatically
14.
SOLAR PANEL CLEANING SYSTEM CAPABLE OF CLEANING A PLURALITY OF SOLAR ARRAYS
Cleaning system for solar panels in a solar park capable of cleaning a plurality of solar arrays without water including a first set of ground based rails positioned substantially in between two neighboring solar arrays, parallel to a length direction of the solar arrays, a second set of ground based rails positioned perpendicularly to the length direction of the solar arrays, a moveable transport platform capable of moving along the second set of ground based rails and an automatic waterless cleaning apparatus capable of moving along the first set of ground based rails along the length direction of the solar arrays, positioned on the moveable transport platform, the second set of ground based rails including a plurality of sensors, the moveable transport platform including two descent rails, a plurality of wheels, a position sensor, a first controller and a power supply, the two descent rails coupled with a surface of the moveable transport platform.
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of solar trackers in at least one solar tracker row, each solar tracker having a length and a width and being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, the cleaning system including at least one waterless cleaning apparatus operable to clean a panel surface of the solar tracker row without using water, at least two rails positioned horizontally parallel to the solar tracker row, a support frame for supporting the cleaning apparatus and a controller coupled with the cleaning apparatus and with the support frame for moving the cleaning apparatus in the width direction and the length direction of the solar tracker row, the support frame moving over the rails and moving the cleaning apparatus in a width direction and a length direction of the solar tracker row while maintaining a pre-determined angle in the width direction of the solar trackers.
System and method to predict maintenance windows, initiate and avoid cleaning cycles of robotic systems that clean solar panels. Using learning algorithms, the system and method is based on collecting, monitoring and conducting trend analysis from data received by the various robotic systems that effect the cleaning cycles, external sensors, sources and feeds.
G05B 13/02 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric
17.
DOCKING AND LOCKING SYSTEM FOR SOLAR PANEL CLEANING SYSTEM
Solar panels row cleaning system that can dock and lock itself at a docking extension attached to the solar row. The self-docking and self-locking is optimally used when the cleaning system is not working. Movement of a cleaning apparatus of the cleaning system is controlled to cause an anchoring element on cleaning apparatus to engage with an anchoring element on 1 he docking extension when in the docking position and thereby lock the cleaning apparatus preventing its movement in horizontal and downward direct ions. This i s particularly useful when strong wind gust are present.
System and method for cleaning solar panel rows, with electronic descent control and potential energy recovery system, operating by modulated switching signals to an electronic switching device that converts DC output of a DC motor/generator to alternating current that is transferred through a transformer and rectifier to charge the system's battery. An impedance load on the DC motor/generator is generated during downward movement of the system' s cleaning apparatus in order to control the descent rate of the cleaning apparatus.
System and method for cleaning solar rows of solar panels. Each solar row has an upper edge elevated from ground level more than a lower edge to provide an inclination of the solar row. A cleaning assembly operates to clean a surface of the solar panels. A support frame supports the cleaning assembly and enables the cleaning assembly to move (1 ) upwardly and downwardly in the width direction of the solar row, and (2) in the length direction of the solar row. Operation and movement of the cleaning assembly is controlled so as to clean a surface of the solar panels during downward movement of the cleaning assembly. The cleaning assembly is preferably not operative during its upward vertical movement. During the downward movement, the cleaning assembly removes dirt, debris and dust from the surface of the solar panels and generates an air stream to blow off the dirt, debris, and dust. The system further includes a guide system for moving the cleaning assembly to align with successive solar panel rows.
patents
